Poverest Allotments 2025

Welcome to Poverest Allotments!

Dig in to the good life at Poverest Allotments! Whether you're a seasoned gardener with green fingers or a budding enthusiast eager to grow your own, you've come to the right place.

Our friendly community allotment site offers a haven for nature lovers and a chance to cultivate your own little patch of paradise.

Whether you are new to alloments and dreaming of fresh produce, the scent of herbs and the satisfying crunch of a homegrown carrot or an existing plot holder who wants to stay up-to-date with events, and important information, it's all right here.

We're on the map

A Little Patch of History: Poverest Allotments Through the Years

Welcome to the story of Poverest Allotments! We're proud of our rich history, and we're excited to share it with you.

Our vibrant allotment site, nestled beside the Poverest Recreation Grounds, has been a haven for green-fingered enthusiasts for over a century. While pinning down the exact start date is a bit of a gardening mystery, historical records offer some tantalizing clues.

Parliamentary records from 1908 reveal discussions about setting aside land in Orpington for allotments, possibly even a portion of what is now our beloved site. Old maps show the area clearly marked as "Allotment Gardens" by 1933, and anecdotal evidence suggests locals were tending plots here even earlier, in the 1920s! Imagine children from Elmcroft Road visiting with their fathers, perhaps even playing near the stream at the bottom of the hill, just as they do today.

Over the years, the site has evolved. Originally, it stretched further east and west, encompassing a much larger area. In the 1970s, some land was used for housing, and the western boundary shifted to its current location in the 1980s, marked by the now-established hedge.

Today, Poverest Allotments thrives as one of 51 allotment sites in the London Borough of Bromley. We're a limited company run by our members, for our members, covering approximately 11 acres and boasting over 90 full-size plots (or the equivalent, as many are now divided into half-plots).

From its humble beginnings as a potential plot of land to the thriving community garden it is today, Poverest Allotments has blossomed into a special place. We're excited to continue growing and cultivating our little piece of history, and we welcome you to be a part of it!

Aeriel view if site. Main entrance is top right.

Joining Poverest Allotments: Your plot awaits!

Dreaming of fresh air and homegrown veggies? We'd love to welcome you to Poverest Allotments!

What's Available?

We currently offer half-plots, ranging from 100-120 square meters. These are perfect for both beginners and experienced gardeners. While full plots aren't currently available, a half-plot offers a manageable space to cultivate your own little piece of paradise.

How to Join:

Due to high demand, we operate a waiting list. If you're a Bromley resident and pay your local taxes to the council, you're eligible to apply! Simply email our Membership Secretary at poverestallotments@gmail.com to express your interest and be added to the list. We'll keep you updated on plot availability.

Costs:

Joining Fee: £5 (one-off payment per member)
Annual Rent for 2026 (which now includes the annual CPI increase): £38 per half-plot (due January 1st each year)
Refundable Deposit: £60 per half-plot (refunded upon leaving, provided the plot is left in a serviceable condition. If work is required to make the plot usable for the next tenant, the deposit will be forfeited).

Work Parties

Plot holders are required to participate in at least two Work Parties per year. These are essential for maintaining our beautiful site and fostering our community spirit. If you are unable to attend two work parties this will result in a £20 deduction from your deposit towards site maintenance costs, payable with your rent the following year.

Payment Methods:

We prefer bank transfers for all payments. Other methods (cash, cheque, or credit card) may incur a small additional fee to cover bank charges.

Ready to dig in? Join our waiting list today!

Site Facilities: Making Allotment Life Easier

At Poverest Allotments, we strive to provide our members with the resources they need to make their gardening experience enjoyable and productive.

The Community Hub:

Located just inside the main gate, our community hub is the heart of our site. It serves as our office, event hall and meeting room. It has two noticeboards to keep you up to date and has adjoining male and female toilets which are open 24/7 between April and October. Our community hub is open on alternate Saturdays and Sundays during the warmer months (April- October) from 10am to 12pm were you are most welcome to have a chat with a member of our Committee over a cup of tea or coffee or borrow equipment. For latest information about activities see the Events Diary and Newsletters.

Thanks to a successful National Lottery grant awarded at the end of 2024, we've replaced the old asbestos roof with a shiny new insulated felt one. This much-needed upgrade means the shed is now a warm and dry space for all plot holders to enjoy. We're currently seeking further funding to spruce up the interior, so watch this space for exciting updates!

Equipment:

We have a range of equipment available for members to borrow, including mowers, strimmers and rotovators. A small donation (details on noticeboard) is requested to help cover fuel and maintenance costs, ensuring these resources remain available for everyone.

Manure, Wood Chippings and More:

Near our community shed, you'll find bunkers containing manure and wood chippings (availability may vary). Occasionally, other useful items like pallets and wooden planks are also available for free for members to use on their plots. Another bunker near the centre of the site may also contain manure and wood chippings.

Parking:

Parking space on-site is limited. However, ample parking is available just outside the front gate and in the nearby Poverest Recreation Grounds, just a short stroll away.

Convenient Access:

For those approaching from Locksley Drive, a second entrance gate at the northwest corner of the site provides easy access to the allotments via the Recreation Grounds.

Views from inside and outside the site.

Water Conservation:

We encourage all plot holders to install water butts on their plots to collect rainwater for irrigating their crops. It's a fantastic way to conserve water and make the most of natural resources. In addition to water butts, we also provide 14 communal water tanks strategically located around the site for your convenience. These tanks are available for use between April and October. For safety and to help conserve water, all plot holders must close the water tank covers before walking away from the tanks. Note that use of hosepipes connected to the Mains supply is not allowed.

Breathing Easier: Air Quality Monitoring

We're proud to participate in Breathe London, an air quality study conducted by Imperial College. We host one of their monitoring stations on a plot at the western end of the site, contributing valuable data to this important research. Want to learn more about air quality at Poverest Allotments and see real-time data? Sensor Profile | Breathe London

Meet Your Committee: The Dedicated Volunteers Behind Poverest Allotments

Poverest Allotments, like all Bromley allotment sites, is self-governing. We have a dedicated committee of volunteers elected annually at our AGM. These individuals generously donate their time and expertise to ensure the smooth running of our site. They handle everything from setting rents and maintaining equipment to organizing events and liaising with the council. All positions are honorary.

Here's a little bit about your current committee members and their roles:

Rob Winkley (Chairman), Plot 21A:Rob ensures our site runs smoothly, fairly, and sustainably. He leads our meetings, represents us to the Council and BALGL, and advocates for our community. He's dedicated to fostering a thriving, green space for everyone.

Bob Vine (Secretary), Plot 69A: Bob manages meeting agendas and minutes, handles correspondence, notice boards, produces newsletters, assists with site maintenance and work party schedules, plot inspections along with cleaning our toilets.

Lesley Adnett (Membership Secretary), Plot 31B: Lesley is your point of contact for plot lettings and waiting list inquiries. She handles plot-related correspondence, keeps member contact details updated, and shows prospective tenants around available plots.

Graham Garnett (Site Manager), Plot 87A: Graham focuses on maintaining our perimeter fences and communal area trees, advises on construction and building maintenance, along with plot inspections

Arun Thomas (General Committee Member), Plot 55a: Arun will be joining forces with all Committee Members in carry out our plot inspections and also helping generally around our site

Rachel Hinkins (General Committee Member), Plot 46A: Rachel, like Arun, will also be helping with our plot inspections and helping generally around our site.

Natalia Heritage (General Committee Member) Plot 44, 43B and 21B: Natalia, like Arun and Rachel, will be helping with plot inspections and general tasks around our site.

Ester Kruasova (General Committee Member) Plot 91a and 92b: Ester, Like Natalia, Arun and Rachel, will be helping with plot inspections and general tasks around our site.

We're incredibly grateful for the hard work and dedication of our committee members.

They're always happy to hear from you, so please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Would you like to join them? Email us at poverestallotments@gmail.com if you would like to become a committee member.

Work Parties: Let's Grow Together!

Work parties are a vital part of Poverest Allotments. They're a chance to roll up your sleeves, get some fresh air, and contribute to the upkeep of our beautiful site. But more than that, they're a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow plot holders, share gardening tips, and build a strong community spirit.

What to Expect:

Work parties last a maximum of two hours and involve tasks like clearing communal areas, maintaining shared facilities, and generally keeping our allotments looking their best. Most jobs are suitable for everyone, regardless of experience. Just bring appropriate gloves and sturdy footwear. A committee member will be on hand to organise tasks, provide guidance, and ensure everyone has the necessary equipment and safety information.
And the best part? We wrap up each work party with complimentary tea, coffee, biscuits, and (usually!) delicious homemade cakes. It's a perfect way to socialise and enjoy the fruits (and cakes!) of our labour.

Yearly Schedule:

A schedule of work party dates and tasks is agreed upon each January and posted on this page, our Facebook group, and the site notice board. This Year's Schedule

Important Note:

Plot holders are required to participate in at least two work parties per year. This shared effort is essential for maintaining our site and fostering our community spirit. If you're unable to attend two work parties, a £20 deduction will be made from your deposit towards site maintenance costs, payable with your rent the following year.

Job Done! Work Party after sucessful morning's work.

Biodiversity at Poverest Allotments: Nurturing Nature in Our Urban Oasis

At Poverest Allotments, we recognize the vital role our site plays in supporting local biodiversity. We're committed to protecting and enhancing the rich variety of life that thrives within our urban setting, in line with the London Borough of Bromley's Biodiversity Plan (2021-2026).

Our Biodiversity Champion:

Joan Vine (plot 69a) has kindly volunteered to be our Biodiversity Champion. She's passionate about fostering a thriving ecosystem within our allotments and will be collecting data on species sightings, acting as a liaison between plot holders, LB Bromley (idverde), and the committee on biodiversity-related matters. You can reach Joan at joanvine1@mac.com.

Invasive Species Alert: The Asian Hornet

The Asian hornet, a threat to our native honeybees, has been spotted in the UK. Please report any sightings immediately! via the website www.nonnativespecies.org/alerts/asianhornet

Wildlife Spotting:

Despite our urban location, Poverest Allotments boasts a surprising array of wildlife. Our hedgerows, ditches, and wooded areas provide valuable habitats. Keep an eye out for:
Birds: Sparrows, robins, starlings, blackbirds, thrushes, blue tits, great tits, coal tits, wagtails, magpies, carrion crows, ring-necked parakeets, woodpigeons, collared doves, pheasants, and even the occasional sparrowhawk.

Mammals: Squirrels, foxes, badgers. Amphibians and Reptiles: Frogs, slow worms.
Insects: Honeybees (from our on-site beekeepers), bumblebees, mason bees, butterflies (including large and small whites, gatekeepers, small blues, red admirals, commas, painted ladies, and peacocks).

We're constantly working to improve biodiversity at Poverest Allotments. Every plot holder can play a part, so let's work together to make our allotments a haven for nature!

Welcome to the Poverest Allotments' Kitchen

This is our allotment community's space for sharing knowledge and wisdom about cooking, storing and preserving our allotment grown produce. It's to help one another to use any gluts, reduce food waste and be creative. Here you will find a seasonal guide to what fruit and vegetables are most glorious when. So please share your recipes, ideas and tips by emailing poverestallotments@gmail.com

December

What's glorious now?

Brussel sprouts, Celery, Chestnuts, Jerusalem Artichokes, Leeks, Parsnips, Pears, Squash, White cabbage.

Recipe of the month:Roasted brussels with sage and chestnut butter
https://www.riverford.co.uk/recipes/roasted-brussels-with-sage-and-chestnut-

Keeping Our Allotments Thriving: Plot Maintenance

We all want our allotment site to be a beautiful and productive space for everyone. To ensure this, we have a few simple guidelines to help keep our plots in good order. We believe these guidelines are essential for the overall health and enjoyment of our community garden. We understand that life can get busy, and sometimes keeping on top of everything can be a challenge. That's why we strongly encourage you to reach out to the Committee if you're struggling. We're here to help! Whether you need advice, a helping hand, or just someone to bounce ideas off, we're happy to support you in any way we can. Don't hesitate to contact us – we'd much rather help you proactively than have to send a maintenance letter.

Our Plot Maintenance Guidelines:

Weed and Grass Control: Please keep weeds and grass under control on your plot.
Rubbish Removal: Keep your plot free of rubbish, tyres (remember the £20 tyre fee!), and excess building materials. Please remove all rubbish from your plot yourself.
Cultivation: Aim for at least 75% of your plot to be actively cultivated.
Path Maintenance: Maintain the paths around your plot, keeping grass short and free of rubbish.

Plot Inspections and Communication:

We're pleased to announce an updated, year-round schedule to help maintain our standards consistently:

October to April: Inspections will be carried out monthly.
April to October (Growing Season): Inspections will increase to every two weeks.

These walks help us ensure all plots are actively managed, tidy, and meet our site guidelines. Dates for upcoming inspections are here and also posted on our Facebook page and in our monthly newsletter – so please do keep an eye on these! If, during an inspection, a plot doesn't meet the above guidelines, we will follow a clear and fair process:

Initial Plot Maintenance Letter: We'll send you a friendly letter outlining the areas needing attention and giving you 14 days to make improvements.
Second Inspection: After 14 days, we'll conduct another inspection. If improvements haven't been made, we'll send a second maintenance letter, again giving you 14 days to address the issues.
Final Termination of Tenancy Letter: If, after the second 14-day period and subsequent inspection, no improvements have been made, we will unfortunately have to send a final 30-day termination of tenancy letter.

Important Note: Please be aware that maintenance letters accrue from one year to the next. This means that if you receive a maintenance letter in one year, the process will continue from that point in the following year, rather than starting afresh.

Arbitration Process:

We understand that sometimes disagreements can arise. If you feel that a maintenance letter has been issued unfairly or incorrectly, we have an arbitration process in place.
Firstly, you would meet with two members of the Committee in person to discuss and hopefully resolve any issues. If not, your case will be referred to our Chairman and if it’s still not resolved we refer your case to BAGL (Bromley Allotment and Leisure Garden Association). BAGL will act as an independent arbitrator, and their decision will be final.
Let's Work Together! Our goal is to create a thriving and enjoyable allotment community for everyone. By working together and communicating openly, we can ensure that our site remains a beautiful and productive space. Please don't hesitate to contact the Committee with any questions, concerns, or if you need any assistance with your plot. We're here to help you succeed!

Poverest Allotments